SPECIAL  REPORT 


TO  THE 


SECRETARY  OF  THE  TREASURY 


BY 


IRA  AYER, 


SPECIAL  AGENT,  TREASURY  DEPARTMENT, 

'  /fy 


SHOWING 


/  '  </>  . 

%  ■  •>'  , 
%  'S3. 

TPIE  PRODUCTION  OF  TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES  IN  THE  UNI$&D 
STATES  DURING  THE  FISCAL  YEAR  ENDED  JUNE  30,  1892', 

AND  THE  PRESENT  CONDITION  OF  THE  INDUSTRY; 

ALSO  CONTAINING  A  BRIEF  STATEMENT  RELATIVE 
TO  THE  PRODUCTfON  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF 
THE  TIN  MINES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


A 

A 

KJ 


AUGUST  15,  1893. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE. 

1892. 


Treasury  Department, 

Document  No.  152  \ 


3 3Sr.  4 

Um3S4,s 


\ 


INDEX  TO  REPORT. 


Page. 

Sworn  statements  of  manufacturers .  5 

The  year’s  production .  5 

American  sheet  iron  or  steel,  manufactures  of,  tinned,  etc .  5 

Imports  an d  exports . 4---  6 

Paragraph  143,  act  of  October  1,  1890,  construction  of .  6 

Estimated  production  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1893  .  6-7 

Production  and  net  importations,  comparison  of .  7 

American  black  plates,  production  of .  7 

Tin  and  terue  plates,  relative  increase  in  production  of .  7-8 

Manufacturing  firms,  quarterly  increase  in  number  of .  8 

Manufactures,  personal  inspection  of .  8 

Firms,  manufactures  of,  suspended .  8 

Losses  by  fire,  repairs  of,  etc .  8-9 

New  firms  established .  9-10 

Progress  of  the  tin  and  terne  plate  industry,  building,  etc .  10-15 

American  tin  and  terne  plates,  quality  of .  15 

Tin  mines,  production  and  development  of. .  16 

EXHIBITS. 

1.  Production  quarter  ending  September  30,  1891 . 17 

2.  Production  quarter  ending  December  31,  1891 . 17 

3.  Production  quarter  ending  March  31,  1892 .  18 

4.  Production  quarter  ending  June  30,  1892 .  19 

5-6.  Summaries  of  production .  20 

7.  Lists  of  manufacturing  companies : 

Manufacturers  of  tin  and  terne  plates .  21 

Stamping  companies .  22 

Rolling  mills  making  black  plates . 22 

3 


767671 


TIN  AND  TEKNE  PLATES. 


Office  Special  Agent,  Treasury  Department, 

402  Washington  street ,  New  York ,  August  15 ,  1892. 

Sir  :  Respectfully  referring  to  Department’s  telegram  dated  July  26, 
1892, 1  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a  special  report  showing  the 
production  of  tin  and  terne  plates  in  the  United  States  during  the  fiscal 
year  ended  June  30,  1892,  and  the  present  condition  of  the  industry. 

I  also  submit  a  brief  statement  relative  to  the  production  and  devel¬ 
opment  of  the  tin  mines  of  the  United  States. 

The  figures  presented  are  taken  from  the  sworn  statements  of  manu¬ 
facturers,  which  are  now  complete  for  the  year,  as  relates  to  the  produc¬ 
tion  of  tin  and  terne  plates. 

These  statements  will  be  filed  with  my  regular  annual  report,  as  soon 
as  the  returns  of  imports  and  exports,  and  of  manufactures  of  American 
sheet  iron  or  steel  made  into  articles  and  wares  tinned  or  terne-coated, 
have  been  received  in  due  form. 

With  respect  to  these  last-named  returns,  the  data  which  I  have  already 
obtained  is  so  nearly  complete,  that  it  may  be  safely  accepted  for  the 
purpose  of  this  report. 

THE  YEAR’S  PRODUCTION. 

The  production  of  tin  and  terne  plates  by  quarters,  for  the  fiscal  year 
onded  June  30, 1892,  is  shown  in  the  abstracts  appended  hereto,  marked 
Exhibits  1, 2, 3,  and  4.  These  abstracts  furnish  the  names  and  location 
of  manufacturing  firms  or  companies,  and  are  not  open  to  further  re¬ 
vision,  for  the  reason,  as  before  stated,  that  they  now  include  the  sworn 
statements  of  manufacturers  for  each  quarter  of  the  year  complete. 
Summary  statements  of  production  are  also  appended,  Exhibits  5  and  6. 

From  Exhibit  6  it  is  seen  that  the  total  production  of  tin  and  terne 
plates  proper  for  the  year,  by  quarters,  was  as  follows : 


Quarter  ending —  Pounds."!1] 

September  30,  1891 .  826,922 

December  31,  1891  .  1,  409, 821 

March  31,  1892 .  3,  ^09, 225 

June  30,  1892  . t . .  8,  200,  751 


Total  production  for  the  year . .  13,  646,  719 


Besides  the  foregoing  it  should  be  stated,  further,  that  the  production 
of  American  sheet  iron  or  steel,  made  into  articles  and  wares,  tinned  or 
terne-coated  during  the  year,  as  shown  by  the  sworn  statements  of 
manufacturers  received  to  date,  was  4,828,228  pounds. 

As  these  manufactures  constitute  tin  and  terne  plates  within  the 
meaning  of  the  law,  it  now  seems  probable  that  when  full  returns  of 
the  same  are  received  the  total  production  for  the  year,  inclusive  of  sucli 
manufactures,  will  not  fall  much  short  of  20,000,000  pounds. 


5 


6 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


IMPORTS  AND  EXPORTS. 

The  quantity  of  tin  plates  and  terne  plates  imported  on  and  after 
July  1,  1891,  and  entered  for  immediate  consumption  on  arrival,  or  with¬ 
drawn  from  warehouse  for  consumption  during  the  year,  was  approxi¬ 
mately  as  shown  below : 


Lighter  than 
63 pounds per 
100  square  feet 

63  pounds  per 
100  square  feet 
and  heavier. 

Total. 

Tin  plates . 

Pounds. 

329,  571,  603 
41,  733,  267 

Pounds. 

14,  406, 441 

1,  293,  689 

Pounds. 

343,  978,  044 
43,  026,  956 

Terne  plates . 

Total . 

I  371,  304,  870  ] 

1 

1  15,  700, 130 

387, 005,  000 

The  quantity  of  tin  plates  and  terne  plates  on  which  duties  were 
paid,  and  which  were  used  in  the  manufacture  of  articles  exported  with 
benefit  of  drawback,  during  the  fiscal  year,  was  approximately  as  follows : 


Lighter  than 
63  pounds  i 
per  100 
square  feet. 

63  pounds 
per  100 
square 
feet  and 
heavier. 

Total. 

Tin  plates . 

Pounds. 
119,432,264  | 
18,239 

Pounds. 
477, 423 
*  157 

Pounds. 
119,  909, 687 
18, 396 

Terne  plates . 

Total . 

119,450,503 

477,  580 

119,928,  083 

From  the  foregoing  it  is  seen  that  of  the  class  of  plate  s  weighing 
lighter  than  63  pounds  per  100  square  feet,  there  were : 


Pounds. 

Total  imports  for  the  year  .  371,  304, 870 

Total  exports  for  the  year  .  119, 450, 503 


Net  imports .  251, 854,  367 

One-third  of  which  is .  83, 951,  456 

Or  in  round  numbers .  84, 000,  000 


Under  the  provisions  of  paragraph  143  of  the  act  dated  October  1, 
1890,  American  manufacturers  must  produce  during  one  of  the  six 
fiscal  years  ending  June  30,  1897,  a  quantity  of  tin  and  terne  plates 
lighter  in  weight  than  63  pounds  per  100  square  feet,  which  shall  equal 
one-third  of  the  net  importations  of  the  same  class  of  plates  during 
one  of  the  said  years $  otherwise  it  is  provided  that  on  and  afcer  Octo¬ 
ber  1,  1897,  all  such  plates  shall  be  admitted  free  of  duty.  It  is  un¬ 
derstood  that  under  the  law  the  year  of  largest  production  may  be 
compared  with  the  year  of  smallest  net  importations. 

If  now  it  be  assumed  that  the  net  importations  of  the  past  fiscal 
year  will  prove  as  small  as  any  that  will  occur  during  any  one  of  the 
six  years  named  in  the  act,  it  will  follow  that  one- third  of  the  said  net 
importations  as  hereinbefore  shown,  or  in  round  numbers  84,000,000 
pounds,  is  the  amount  which  American  manufacturers  have  to  produce 
during  one  of  the  said  years  in  order  to  meet  what  may  be  termed  the 
one-third  requirement  relative  to  production  as  provided  in  the  law. 

That  American  manufacturers  will  meet  this  requirement  during  the 
present  fiscal  year  is  scarcely  open  to  question. 

It  has  been  shown  that  during  the  past  year  the  total  production 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


7 


under  the  law  closely  approximates  20,000,000  pounds.  I ’see  no  reason 
for  changing  the  view  expressed  in  my  report  of  April  26,  1892,  that 
the  production  of  the  present  fiscal  year  will  be  in  excess  of  100,000,000 
pounds. 

In  that  report  I  estimated  the  production  of  tin  and  terne  plates  for 
the  fiscal  year  just  ended  at  10,000,000  pounds;  but  it  has  been  seen 
that  the  actual  production  exceeded  that  estimate  by  more  than  three 
and  one-half  million  pounds.  Of  the  production  of  tin  and  terne  plates 
during  the  past  fiscal  year,  a  little  more  than  90  per  cent  was  of  the 
lighter  class  of  plates  named  in  the.  law,  which  alone  are  subject  to 
comparison  with  the  same  class  of  plates  imported.  If  practically  the 
same  ratio  of  weight  between  the  lighter  and  the  heavier  class  of 
plates  should  be  maintained  during  the  present  fiscal  year,  as  pre¬ 
sumably  it  will  be,  there  would  result  upon  the  foregoing  estimate  a 
production  of  90,000,000  pounds,  weighing  lighter  than  63  pounds  per 
100  square  feet,  or  an  excess  of  6,000,000  pounds  over  the  required 
amount.  These  figures  have  reference  to  tin  and  terne  plates  only.  I 
may  here  state  that  the  rapid  growth  of  the  industry  since  the  date 
of  my  former  report  fully  justifies  the  prediction  therein  contained, 
that  by  the  close  of  the  present  fiscal  year  the  production  will  be  at 
the  annual  rate  of  200,000,000  pounds. 

PRODUCTION  OF  AMERICAN  BLACK  PLATES. 

A  careful  estimate  shows  that  the  quantity  of  black  plates  produced 
in  the  United  States,  and  which  entered  into  the  manufacture  of  tin 
and  terne  plates  during  the  year  was,  by  quarters,  as  follows  : 


Quarter  ending —  Pounds. 

September  30,  1891 .  785, 547 

December  31,  1891  .  1, 200,  661 

March  31,  1892 .  2, 132,  082 

June  30,  1892  .  5, 178,  263 


Total .  9,  296, 553 

To  which  add  black  plates  sold  to  stamping  companies,  made  into  articles 

and  wares,  and  tinned  or  terne-coated  as  per  returns  to  date .  4,  828, 228 


Aggregate . . . .  14, 124,  781 


In  other  words  of  the  production  of  tin  and  terne  plates  proper  for 
the  year  over  68  per  cent,  and  of  the  total  production  over  70  per  cent 
were  made  from  American  black  plates.  Further  inspection  shows 
that  the  quarterly  increase  in  the  production  of  black  plates  has  been 
in  about  the  same  ratio  as  that  of  tin  and  terne  plates.  The  prepara¬ 
tions  that  are  going  forward  for  the  production  of  black  plates,  by 
American  manufacturers,  justifies  the  belief  that  this  rate  of  increase 
will  be  maintained. 

A  further  examination  of  the  figures  presented  in  the  abstracts  shows 
that  the  production  of  tin  and  terne  plates  during  the  fourth  quarter 
of  the  year  was  more  than  two  and  one-half  times  greater  than  that 
of  the  previous  quarter,  and  was  about  three-fifths  of  the  entire  pro¬ 
duction  for  the  year.  Of  the  total  amount  of  13,646,719  pounds  of  tin 
and  terne  plates  produced  during  the  year,  4,539,590  pounds,  or  about 
one- third  of  the  whole,  consisted  of  bright  tin  plates,  and  of  this 
amount  4,132,009  pounds,  or  more  than  90  per  cent  was  of  the  class  of 
plates  weighing  lighter  than  63  pounds  per  100  square  feet. 

During  the  fourth  quarter  of  the  year  the  production  of  bright  tin 
plates,  as  compared  with  the  first  quarter,  was  in  the  ratio  of  more 


8 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


than  20  to  1,  while  that  of  tern  e  plates  was  in  the  ratio  of  less  than  8 
to  1.  Taking  the  four  quarters  together  the  production  more  than 
doubled  with  each  quarter. 

During  the  first  quarter  of  the  fiscal  year  five  firms  were  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  tin  and  terne  plates,  eleven  during  the  second, 
twenty  during  the  third,  and  twenty- six  during  the  fourth.  The  prob¬ 
ability  is  that  at  least  eight  new  names  will  be  added  to  the  list  of 
manufacturers  at  the  end  of  the  present  quarter. 

Since  my  report  of  April  26,  1892,  I  have  visited  officially,  under  De¬ 
partment  instructions,  most  of  the  tin-plate  manufactories  of  the  coun¬ 
try,  with  a  view  to  ascertain  as  nearly  as  practicable  the  exact  condi¬ 
tion  of  the  industry  by  personal  inquiry  and  observation.  The  results 
of  my  observations  were  duly  submitted  in  special  reports  to  the  De¬ 
partment,  to  which  reference  is  hereby  made  for  details  of  information 
too  extended  for  this  report. 

During  the  past  quarter  the  Keystone  Tin  Plate  Company,  of  Phila¬ 
delphia,  Pa.,  which  had  a  small  plant,  suspended  after  a  few  weeks  of 
production,  owing  to  difficulties  of  a  personal  nature.  I  am  informed 
that  they  are  liable  to  resume  under  the  same  name,  but  with  a  differ¬ 
ent  management. 

The  firm  of  William  T.  Simpson  &  Co.,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  which  has 
been  among  the  list  of  manufacturers,  but  whose  production  has  been 
inconsiderable,  furnished  no  returns  during  the  past  quarter.  They 
inform  me  that  what  little  they  have  done  has  been  simply  by  way  of 
experiment.  The  Lewiston  Tin  Plate  Works  of  Joliet,  Ill.,  which  began 
the  erection  of  a  complete  plant,  to  include  the  manufacture  of  black 
plates,  have  suspended  their  building  operations  for  want  of  the  neces¬ 
sary  capital  to  proceed.  I  am  informed  that  a  defective  land  title  will 
probably  prevent  the  work  being  resumed. 

The  Anderson  Tin  Plate  Company,  of  Anderson,  Ind.,  began  building 
about  one  year  ago  without  experience  or  the  necessary  capital,  and 
for  some  months  their  operations  were  experimental.  The  company 
ran  behind  in  their  finances,  and  a  few  days  ago  a  forced  sale  was  made 
to  satisfy  a  judgment  of  about  $300,  the  owners  having  a  year  in  which 
to  redeem  their  property.  The  company  have  been  operating  a  5-roll 
Morewood  tinning  machine,  and  when  I  was  there  June  21,  1892,  they 
were  putting  in  an  Edwards’  machine,  which  was  expected  to  be  ready 
for  work  about  July  1,  1892.  The  plates  produced  by  this  firm  have 
found  ready  sale,  being  of  excellent  quality.  The  firm  are  now  mak¬ 
ing  an  effort  to  adjust  their  financial  affairs,  the  intention  being  to  con¬ 
tinue  the  work  of  production  as  heretofore,  but  on  a  larger  scale.  A 
new  and  substantial  wooden  structure,  directly  on  the  main  line  ot 
railroad,  furnishes  ample  room  for  the  operations  proposed. 

The  McKinley  Tin  Plate  Company,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  which  were 
reported  to  have  gone  out  of  busiuess,  reorganized  under  the  same 
name,  and  have  erected  a  substantial  plant  at  Wilkinsburg,  Pa.,  which 
they  expect  soon  to  enlarge. 

Within  the  past  few  months  four  firms  have  suffered  from  fire.  As 
this  seems  not  to  have  been  fully  understood,  and  hence  to  have  been 
the  subject  of  some  unfavorable  comment,  it  seems  proper  briefly  to 
present  the  facts,  which  are  as  follows : 

1 .  In  March,  1892,  the  K.  &  G.  Taylor  Company,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
which  occupied  temporarily,  and  for  experimental  purposes,  a  rented 
building,  were  burned  out. 

During  the  last  three  months  the  firm  have  been  engaged  erecting 
large  and  substantial  works  of  brick  and  iron  on  Tasker  street,  in  Phila- 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


9 


delphia,  near  the  Delaware  Biver.  These  works  are  bounded  on  two 
sides  by  the  tracks  of  the  Pennsylvania  Central  and  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Bailroads,  and  on  the  third  side  by  the  “Belt  Line,”  which  is  pro¬ 
jected  to  connect  with  all  trunk  lines  running  into  Philadelphia.  At 
the  time  of  my  visit  to  their  new  works,  made  July  23,  1892,  the  walls 
of  all  their  buildings  were  found  to  be  completed,  and  on  some  of  the 
buildings  the  roofs  were  nearly  finished.  On  the  tinning  house  which 
is  50  by  305  feet  in  length,  and  which  is  built  with  chimneys  and  places 
for  23  tinning  stacks,  the  iron  trusses  were  being  placed  for  the  roof. 

The  foundations  for  two  tinning  machines  were  being  laid,  and  the 
expectation  of  the  firm  was  that  they  would  be  engaged  in  the  actual 
work  of  production  by  August  20, 1892.  The  estimated  yearly  capacity 
of  the  plant  when  finished  is  over  30,000,000  pounds. 

2.  On  the  12th  of  May,  1892,  the  Pittsburg  Tin  Plate  Works,  of  New 
Kensington,  Pa.,  were  destroyed  by  fire.  On  the  11th  of  July  follow¬ 
ing  the  firm  had  nearly  completed  a  fine  steel  building,  in  which  they 
proposed  to  operate  three  tinning  stacks  instead  of  two,  as  before.  On 
the  date  last  named  they  hoped  to  be  in  operation  August  1,  1892. 

3.  The  firm  of  Coates  &  Co.,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  lost  a  portion  of  their 
works  by  fire  in  June,  1892.  On  the  occasion  of  my  last  visit  to  their 
place,  July  22,  1892,  the  work  of  reconstruction  was  going  rapidly  for¬ 
ward.  The  machinery  of  their  rolling  mills  was  in  motion  and  under 
a  temporary  shelter,  the  cold  rolls  were  in  operation  on  the  black 
plates,  as  were  also  the  annealing  furnace,  the  pickling  department, 
etc.  Arrangements  had  been  perfected  for  starting  their  tinning  plant 
which  had  not  been  injured  by  the  fire,  on  Monday  the  25th  of  the 
same  month.  The  firm  were  at  that  time  maturing  plans  for  enlarging 
their  works  to  double  the  capacity  before  the  fire. 

4.  The  remaining  firm  was  the  St.  Louis  Stamping  Company,  of  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  On  the  night  of  July  4,  1892,  this  firm  had  a  tire  in  their 
tinning  house,  which  practically  did  no  further  damage  than  to  burn 
out  the  roof  and  the  dependent  shafting,  together  with  the  hoods,  etc., 
over  the  tinning  kettles. 

When  the  fire  occurred  eleven  stacks  were  in  operation.  Bepglrs 
were  hastily  made,  and  on  July  21,  1892,  six  out  of  the  eleven  tinning 
stacks  were  running.  The  remainder  it  was  expected  would  be  in  op¬ 
eration  by  the  end  of  that  week. 

When  in  St.  Louis,  on  June  20,  1892,  this  firm  were  putting  down 
foundations  of  the  most  substantial  character  for  ten  additional  stands 
of  cold  rolls,  when  their  twelve  stands  of  hot  rolls,  making  six  hot 
mills  complete,  were  to  be  put  solely  upon  black  plates. 

To  this  work  of  enlargement  six  additional  tinning  stacks  were  be¬ 
ing  built,  making  sixteen  in  all.  The  firm  expected  that  the  whole 
would  be  completed  ready  for  operation  by  September  1, 1892. 

With  respect  to  the  origin  of  these  fires,  it  may  be  stated,  in  general, 
that  they  were  due  to  the  inflammable  nature  of  oils  used,  and  in  part, 
probably,  to  want  of  experience  in  guarding  against  accidents  on  this 
account. 

I  may  mention  in  this  connection  that  recently  several  strong  firms 
have  entered  the  list  as  producers,  and  are  now  erecting  works  which, 
during  the  next  twelve  months,  will  call  for  an  investment  in  buildings 
and  plant  probably  of  $250,000  each. 

Among  these  are  the  firm  of  Hughes  &  Patterson,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
who  have  large  rolling  mills  on  the  Delaware,  and  who  are  now  putting 
up  extensive  and  substantial  brick  and  iron  structures  for  the  rolling 


10 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


of  black  plates,  as  well  as  for  every  department  of  tin-plate  manufac¬ 
ture.  The  foundations  of  these  buildings  were  in  process  of  construc¬ 
tion  when  I  was  there,  July  23,  1802. 

At  Elizabethport,  N.  J.,  the  firm  of  E.  Morewood  &  Co.,  of  Llanelly 
and  Swansea,  Wales,  are  ejecting  large  and  substantial  works  of  brick 
and  iron,  the  estimated  capacity  of  which  will  be  from  20,000,000  to 
25,000,000  pounds  yearly,  working  two  turns,  which  is  the  purpose. 
The  company,  which  will  be  known  as  the  Morewood  Tin  Plate  Manu¬ 
facturing  Company,  expect  to  begin  the  work  of  actual  manufacture 
about  October  1, 1892.  For  the  present  they  will  use  black  plates  made  at 
their  own  works  in  Wales.  The  works  at  Elizabethport  will  be  en¬ 
larged  within  the  year,  either  by  doubling  the  tinning  capacity,  or  by 
the  erection  of  the  necessary  rolling  mills  to  supply  the  black  plates  to 
the  works  now  building. 

Three  acres  of  land  have  been  purchased  directly  on  tide  water,  and 
the  railroad  company  is  making  connection  direct  to  the  works. 

At  Gas  City,  Ind.,  which  is  in  the  natural-gas  section  of  the  State, 
the  same  firm  are  now  erecting  tinning  works  under  the  name  of  E. 
Morewood  &  Co.,  the  building  of  which  is  as  far  advanced,  and  will 
have  the  same  capacity,  as  the  works  at  Elizabethport.  Here  the  firm 
have  52  acres  of  laud,  and  will  within  the  present  year  erect  a  4-mill 
plant  with  all  the  necessary  appliances  for  the  manufacture  of  black 
plates. 

This  plant  the  firm  propose  steadily  to  enlarge  until  a  20-mill  plant 
is  in  operation.  Siemens- Martin  open-hearth  furnaces  will  convert  the 
pig  iron  into  steel,  from  which  it  is  cast  into  ingots,  and  is  thence  car¬ 
ried  through  the  various  processes  of  manufacture  into  steel  billets, 
bars,  sheets,  and  black  plates,  ready  for  tinning. 

The  plans  propose  an  investment  in  rolling  mills  and  tinning  plant, 
when  completed,  of  $1,000,000.  The  yearly  capacity  of  this  plant  when 
in  full  operation  is  estimated  at  from  58,000,000  to  60,000,000  pounds. 

On  a  visit  to  the  works  at  Elizabethport  a  few  days  since,  I  met  Mr. 
Charles  M.  Stuart,  who  is  a  gentleman  of  much  intelligence'  and  has 
charge  of  the  business  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Rogers,  the  man¬ 
aging  partner  of  the  firm  in  Wales.  Mr.  Rogers  is  among  the  largest 
and  most  influential  of  the  Welsh  manufacturers,  having  been  for  some 
years  chairman  of  the  Tin  Plate  Manufacturers’  Association  of  Wales. 
The  firm  have  ample  capital  to  enable  them  to  carry  forward  success¬ 
fully  the  work  they  have  undertaken. 

I  was  informed  that  it  has  been  fully  determined  that  the  foremen 
only  shall  be  from  W ales,  and  that  Americans  will  be  employed  in  the 
various  other  departments  of  labor. 

Other  large  firms  referred  to  in  my  former  report  are  about  ready  to 
begin  manufacture,  or  are  pushing  the  work  of  preparation.  In  some 
cases  unlooked-for  hindrances  have  occurred,  as  was  to  have  been  ex¬ 
pected,  and  the  work  of  actual  production  has  been  delayed. 

I  may  here  refer  to  the  Somerton  Tin  Plate  Works,  of  Brooklyn,  1ST.  Y., 
which  are  now  about  ready  to  start,  and  the  mills  of  which  will  probably 
be  turning  out  the  metal  sheets  during  the  present  month.  In  visiting 
these  works  some  weeks  since,  Mr.  Rogers,  whose  name  has  been 
previously  mentioned,  expressed  his  astonishment  at  finding  so  com¬ 
plete  a  plant. 

From  the  statement  of  an  English  paper,  Mr.  Rogers  is  understood 
to  have  referred  to  this  plant,  on  his  return  to  Wales,  as  the  “  finest  he 
had  ever  seen.”  He  also,  as  is  reported,  spoke  of  an  “enormous  steel 
and  tin-plate  concern”  that  was  being  built  in  Chicago,  by  which  he  is 
understood  to  have  referred  to  the  Corning  Steel  Company  of  that  city. 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


11 


In  calling  at  the  office  of  this  company  in  Chicago,  June  17,  1892,  I 
met  the  president,  Mr.  Charles  S.  Corning,  who  furnished  me  with  the 
following  statement  of  facts  relative  to  their  present  and  prospective 
operations. 

Mr.  Corning  stated  that  the  company  was  organized  in  January,  1892, 
under  the  laws  of  Illinois,  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  the  manufac¬ 
ture  of  sheet  steel,  with  black  plates  as  a  specialty.  The  capital  stock 
of  the  company  was  $250,000,  all  of  which  was  paid  infill  cash,  and  which, 
according  to  their  plans,  was  to  be  increased  to  double  the  amount  by 
January  1 , 1893.  The  works  were  at  the  time  in  course  of  construction 
at  Hammond,  Ind.,  which  is  just  outside  of  the  city  limits  of  Chicago. 

A  building  of  brick  and  iron  300  by  TOO  feet,  with  cement  a) id  stone 
foundations,  had  the  walls  already  up,  and  the  roof  trusses  were  then 
being  placed  in  position. 

The  intention  of  the  firm  is  to  manufacture  nothing  but  sheet  steel  of 
the  best  quality,  using  the  basic  open-hearth  process. 

The  rolling  mill,  it  was  expected,  would  be  in  operation  September  1, 
1892.  Two  1,200-horse  power  Corliss  engines  for  driving  the  mills  were 
built  ready  for  shipment,  and  portions  were  already  on  the  ground. 
This  part  of  the  machinery  was  built  by  a  large  foundry  and  machine 
works  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.  A  company  at  Youngstown,  Ohio,  were 
making  all  the  roll  trains  and  some  of  the  shears.  Other  parts  of  the 
machinery  were  being  made  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Cambridge  City,  Ind., 
Bay  City,  Mich.,  and  in  Chicago.  The  said  rolling  mills  will  employ 
275  men.  As  soon  as  the  rolling  mills  are  in  operation  the  company 
will  erect  their  tinning  works  to  manufacture  bright  tin  plates  on  a 
large  scale.  The  intention  is  to  introduce  the  most  improved  machin¬ 
ery  and  methods  in  every  part  of  the  business. 

The  plans  were  all  shown  me,  duly  signed  by  the  contractors,  as  was 
the  contract  itself.  1  was  also  shown  correspondence  from  at  le&ftt  two 
of  the  manufacturing  firms  indicated,  in  which  reference  was  made  to 
considerable  portions  of  the  machinery  already  finished. 

The  site  consists  of  20  acres,  which  was  purchased  by  the  company 
for  this  special  purpose.  A  track  connecting  with  five  trunk  lines  of 
railroads  runs  directly  into  the  works.  The  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne 
and  Chicago  Pail  road  were  then  building  a  connecting  track,  a  mile 
and  a  half  in  length,  to  take  their  share  of  the  business,  and  a  subur¬ 
ban  station  was  to  be  established  at  this  point. 

The  estimated  output  of  the  rolling  mill  when  fully  completed  was 
from  75  to  100  tons  every  twenty-four  hours,  based  on  sheets  27  wire 
gauge.  » 

On  Monday,  June  20, 1892,  the  American  Tin  Plate  Company,  of  El- 
wood,  Ind.,  started  a  new  complete  plant,  which  was  in  operation  rolling 
the  steel  sheets  and  making  bright  plates  on  my  arrival  there  June  22, 
1892.  There  are  three  buildings,  as  follows : 


Feet. 

The  rolling  mill  (iron) .  130  by  176 

The  cold  rolling  mill  (brick) .  135  by  60 

The  tinning  house  (brick) .  170  by  50 


The  engine  for  the  four  hot  mills  (two  stands  of  rolls  each)  is  1,000 
horse  power.  The  one  for  the  cold  rolls  (four  stands  at  present)  is  000 
horse  power.  Two  of  the  hot  mills  were  at  work,  and  the  other  two 
were  to  be  ready  for  work  in  a  few  days.  The  machinery  of  the  cold' 
rolls  was  running,  and  the  rolls  were  being  polished  ready  for  use.  The 
necessary  heating  and  annealing  furnaces  were  complete  with  the. 
doubling  and  trimming  shears.  An  automatic  pickling  machine  was 
rapidly  approaching  completion. 


12 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


These  works  were  built  new  throughout  for  the  sole  purpose  of  roll¬ 
ing  the  black  plates  and  of  making  bright  tin  and  terne  plates.  The 
buildings  are  ample,  and  are  made  in  the  most  substantial  manner. 
The  works  are  in  the  midst  of  the  natural-gas  section  of  Indiana. 

A  gas  well  put  down  by  the  company  just  outside  the  works,  furnishes 
the  fuel  for  the  boilers  and  furnaces  and  for  the  tinning  stacks. 

In  tne  tinning  house,  there  are  chimneys  and  places  for  ten  stacks; 
five  5-roll  Morewood  tinning  machines  were  in  position,  one  of  which 
was  in  operation,  and  the  other  four  were  being  put  in  readiness  to 
start  immediately. 

The  five  additional  stacks  were  to  be  put  in  as  soon  as  practicable, 
one  or  more  of  which  were  to  be  the  Norton’s  patent,  by  the  automatic 
palm-oil  process.  , 

The  plant  when  perfected,  according  to  present  plans,  will  have  cost, 
as  Col.  A.  L.  Conger,  the  president  of  the  company,  informed  me,  about 
$250,000. 

As  soon  as  this  is  in  successful  operation,  the  company  are  prepared 
to  enlarge  in  every  direction,  and  will  make  their  own  steel  from  the 
open-hearth  furnace. 

The  men  connected  with  this  enterprise  have  abundant  capital  at 
their  command,  which  they  are  prepared  to  invest  to  any  required  ex¬ 
tent,  as  the  business  may  warrant. 

The  estimated  capacity  of  the  present  plant  is  from  11,000,000  to 
12,000,000  pounds  annually.  The  persons  employed  in  the  rolling  mills 
and  in  the  tinning  house  are  principally  Americans. 

Elwood  is  rapidly  becoming  a  manufacturing  center,  the  chief  at¬ 
traction  being  the  supply  of  natural  gas.  A  number  of  those  inter¬ 
ested  in  the  tin-plate  works  are  also  interested  in  one  of  the  largest 
plate-glass  works  in  the  country,  which  is  located  at  this  point,  and  is 
in  successful  operation.  These  and  other  large  manufacturing  inter¬ 
ests  have  grown  up  at  Elwood  during  the  past  five  years. 

Marshall  Bros.  &  Co.,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  are  in  successful  operation 
with  two  hot  mills,  two  stands  of  rolls  each,  and  three  stands  of  cold 
rolls,  together  with  the  necessary  annealing  furnaces,  machinery  for  tin¬ 
ning,  etc.  This  firm  are  constantly  adding  improvements  to  their  plant, 
and  contemplate  doubling  their  present  rolling-mill  capacity  at  an 
early  day.  A  large  bar  mill  rolls  the  bars  from  steel  billets,  which  are 
obtained  from  iron  and  steel  manufacturers  in  the  vicinity  of  Pitts¬ 
burg  and  elsewhere.  The  bars  after  rolling  are  cut  into  the  requisite 
lengths,  and  are  then  known  as  u  tin-plate  bars.” 

These  works  are  located  on  the  Delaware  River,  and  cars  from  the 
Pennsylvania  and  the  Reading  railroads  run  directly  into  the  works.  A 
‘Careful  estimate  made  by  the  head  of  the  firm,  Mr.  Alfred  Marshall,  at 
the  time  of  my  visit,  June  10,  1892,  placed  the  cost  of  that  portion  of 
their  works  which  is  devoted  exclusively  to  the  manufacture  of  tin  and 
terne  plates,  at  $150,000.  The  total  number  of  persons  employed  in 
their  tin-plate  manufactures  will  average  about  150. 

The  United  States  Iron  and  Tin  Plate  Manufacturing  Company,  of 
Demmler,  Pa.,  have  enlarged  their  rolling  mill,  and  otherwise  are  mak¬ 
ing  additions  to  their  plant. 

The  present  plant  consists  of  six  stands  of  hot  rolls  and  five  of  cold 
rolls,  with  the  necessary  appliances  for  pickling,  annealing,  and  tin¬ 
ning.  There  is  a  bar  mill  for  rolling  the  tin-plate  bars  from  steel  billets, 
and  an  improved  squaring  machine  is  provided.  When  there,  June 
24,  1892,  a  new  pickling  machine  was  being  put  in,  which  it  was  ex¬ 
pected  would  be  in  operation  in  July  following.  The  cost  of  that  por- 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


13 


tion  of  the  buildings  and  plant,  specially  designed  and  used  for  tin¬ 
plate  manufactures,  was -estimated  by  the  president,  Mr.  Cronemeyer, 
at  $250,000. 

The  Blairsville  Rolling  Mill  and  Tin  Plate  Company,  at  Blairsville, 
Pa.,  which  I  visited  June  27,  1892,  expect  to  begin  the  work  of  actual 
manufacture  not  later  than  September  1,  1892,  with  a  plant  of  very 
substantial  character. 

The  buildings  are  one  of  brick  and  one  of  iron,  the  two  covering  an 
area  of  120  by  140  feet.  There  are  three  stands  of  hot  rolls,  three  of 
cold  rolls,  with  automatic  pickling  machinery,  and  five  tinning  stacks. 
The  boiler  and  engine  have  a  capacity  which  will  permit  of  enlarging 
the  rolling-mill  plant,  as  is  intended.  The  firm  have  been  delayed  by 
various  unforeseen  causes  in  beginning  the  work  of  actual  production 
as  soon  as  was  expected. 

The  Falcon  Iron  and  Nail  Company  of  Niles,  Ohio,  have  let  most  of 
the  contracts  and  are  building  the  foundations  for  their  new  tin-plate 
works,  which  will  include  a  complete  rolling-mill  plant  for  the  manu¬ 
facture  of  black  plates. 

About  two  years  ago  the  Britton  Rolling  Mill  Company,  of  which 
Mr.  J.  W.  Britton  is  president,  bought  11  acres  of  land,  located  on 
Hoyt  avenue  and  the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  later  erected  a  rolling  mill  designed  primarily  for 
the  manufacture  of  tin  plates,  although  it  is  also  rolling  sheet  and  plate 
iron. 

The  main  building  of  these  works  is  of  iron,  165  by  260  feet.  Plans 
are  fully  matured  for  enlarging  the  present  building,  giving  thereby 
the  necessary  space  for  one  pickling  house,  40  by  60,  one  annealing 
house,  54  by  84,  and  a  tinning  house,  48  by  130. 

The  engine  for  the  tin-plate  mill  is  1,000  horse  power,  and  was  on  the 
ground  at  the  time  of  my  visit,  June  15, 1892,  as  were  also  the  housings 
and  bedplates  for  two  tin-plate  mills  and  two  stands  of  cold  rolls.  For 
the  latter  there  will  be  a  separate  engine  of  400  horse  power.  Accord¬ 
ing  to  present  plans  there  will  be  four  hot  mills,  two  stands  of  rolls 
each,  and  four  stands  of  cold  rolls,  with  the  necessary  heating  furnaces, 
doubling  and  trimming  shears,  annealing  furnaces,  {fickling  machines, 
etc.  The  bar  mill,  for  rolling  the  tin-plate  bars  from  steel  billets,  is 
already  in  operation. 

Mr.  Britton  informed  me  that  they  would  commence  the  erection  of  the 
enlarged  works  early  in  July,  and  he  expects  to  have  the  four  tin-plate 
mills  and  the  tinning  department  all  in  operation  before  the  close  of 
the  present  year.  He  informed  me,  further,  that  the  capital  stock  of 
the  company  is  $250,000,  the  largest  part  of  which  will  be  invested  in 
their  tin-plate  operations. 

The  Cumberland  Steel  and  Tin  Plate  Company,  of  Cumberland, 
Md.,  are  erecting  substantial  works  to  consist  of  four  hot  mills,  two 
stands  of  rolls  each,  and  four  stands  of  cold  rolls;  also  a  pickling 
maching,  and  other  necessary  appliances  for  the  manufacture  of  black 
plates. 

One  building,  that  for  the  rolling  mill,  which  is  of  steel,  60  by  100 
feet,  is  now  in  process  of  erection,  the  object  being  to  perfect  the  man¬ 
ufacture  of  black  plates  before  engaging  in  tinning. 

The  engine  will  be  1,000  horse  power.  A  portion  of  the  machinery 
had  already  been  contracted  for  June  3,  1892,  when  I  visited  Cumber¬ 
land,  where  I  had  an  interview  with  the  president  of  the  company,  Mr. 
J.  Wilson  Humbird,  of  that  place. 

I  subsequently  met  Mr.  Dickey,  of  the  firm  of  Hicks  &  Dickey,  of 
Philadelphia,  who  have  a  large  interest  in  these  works.  The  imme- 


14 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


diate  investment  in  buildings  and  plant  was  estimated  by  Mr.  Dickey 
at  $75,000,  but  the  plans,  when  fully  carried  out,  call  for  an  outlay 
much  in  excess  of  that  amount.  It  is  expected  that  the  works  will  be  in 
operation  in  October,  1892. 

The  New  Castle  Steel  and  Tin  Plate  Company  of  New  Castle,  Pa., 
are  building  a  complete  new  plant,  and  are  pushing  the  work  as  fast 
as  possible. 

The  foundations  for  machinery  are  nearly  completed.  The  main 
building  is  all  of  steel  and  iron,  and  is  113  by  251  feet,  and  24  feet  high 
from  floor  line  to  under  side  of  lower  chord  of  truss.  The  roof  is  now 
going  on  to  the  roll,  lathe,  machine,  and  tool  house,  which  is  40  feet  8 
inches,  by  70  feet,  and  16  feet  high,  built  of  stone  and  brick,  with  slate 
roof. 

The  annealing,  pickling,  tinning,  shipping,  and  office  building  is  60 
feet  8  inches  by  360  feet.  Contracts  are  closed  with  the  Garrison 
Foundry  Company,  of  Pittsburg,  for  four  hot  mills,  two  stands  of  rolls 
each,  and  four  stands  of  cold  rolls;  also  for  one  21-inch  3-high  bar  mill. 
When  in  Pittsburg,  June  28,  1892,  I  called  upon  this  firm,  and  was 
shown  the  plans  for  these  mills,  which  they  were  then  making.  Two 
700  horse  power  Corliss  engines,  with  boilers,  etc.,  have  been  con¬ 
tracted  for  with  the  Bass  Foundry  and  Machine  Works,  of  Fort  Wayne, 
Ind.  The  tinning  machinery,  doubling  and  trimming  shears,  etc.,  is 
contracted  for  with  the  Lloyd  Booth  Company,  of  Youngstown,  Ohio. 
The  machinery  is  to  be  delivered  in  August  and  September,  1892. 

The  engines  and  buildings  are  arranged  for  two  additional  mills, 
which  will  be  put  in  soon.  The  plant,  which  is  being  built  for 
cash,  will  cost  $200,000.  The  firm  hope  to  begin  the  actual  work  of 
manufacture  by  December  1,  1892,  at  the  latest. 

The  firm  of  Wallace  Ban  field  &  Company,  of  Irohdale,  Ohio,  ha  ve 
been  most  successfully  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  black  plates, 
which  they  have  largely  tinned  themselves,  and  have  also  sold  largely 
to  other  tin-plate  manufacturers.  Hitherto  they  have  had  in  operation 
two  hot  mills,  two  stands  of  rolls  each,  and  two  stands  of  cold  rolls. 

The  firm  propose  to  double  their  present  plant,  by  turning  all  their 
rolls  into  tin-plate  mills,  adding  the  necessary  cold  rolls.  By  these 
means  they  will  have  in  operation  by  the  end  of  the  present  year  four 
hot  mills,  two  stands  rolls  each,  and  four  stands  of  cold  rolls,  with  an 
annual  output  of  over  10,000,000  pounds.  There  are  six  Morewood 
tinning  stacks,  with  pickling  machines,  etc.  The  plant  is  supplied 
with  a  bar  mill,  which  rolls  the  tin-plate  bars  from  the  billets. 

The  firm  state  that  they  have  at  present  225  persons  employed  in 
their  tin-plate  industry. 

The  firm  of  Merchant  &  Co.,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  large  importers 
and  dealers  in  metals,  etc.,  have  found  that  their  present  building, 
which  is  a  substantial  structure  of  brick  and  iron,  erected  in  part  for 
the  purpose,  has  proved  entirely  inadequate  to  supply  the  rapidly  in¬ 
creasing  demand  for  their  plates,  and  they  are  now  erecting  another 
building  which  will  double  their  present  capacity.  The  firm  use  the 
Griffiths  machine,  which  is  a  Welsh  patent,  and  at  the  time  of  my  visit 
there,  June  9,  1892, 1  found  one  of  these  machines  running  steadily 
two  turns ;  they  were  then  further  engaged  in  putting  in  four  of  these 
machines  additional,  all  of  which,  it  was  expected,  would  be  in  readi¬ 
ness  for  work  some  time  in  the  following  month,  July  last. 

The  Norton  Brothers,  of  Chicago,  were  pushing  forward  the  work 
upon  their  plant  at  Maywood  on  the  occasion  of  my  visit  there,  June 
16,  1892.  The  tinning  house,  which  is  a  substantial  wooden  structure  9 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


15 


with  stone  and  cement  foundations,  is  36  by  270  feet,  and  was  finished 
with  the  necessary  space  for  thirty  tinning  machines,  which  the  firm 
propose  to  put  in  as  fast  as  they  can  be  made  in  their  machine  shops. 
These  machines  are  of  the  firm’s  own  invention,  and  are  covered  by 
patent,  being  known  as  u  Norton’s  automatic  palm-oil  tinning  machine.” 
I  was  informed  by  one  of  the  Norton  Brothers  that  these  machines 
have  a  capacity  of  70  boxes  per  day  of  ten  hours,  either  14  by  20  or  20 
by  28  I.  G.  plates.  This  is  an  output  much  in  excess  of  any  machine 
of  which  I  have  knowledge. 

At  the  time  of  my  visit  the  firm  had  just  booked  an  order  from  the 
Fair  wood  Tin  Plate  Works,  at  Gowerton,  near  Swansea,  Wales,  for 
two  of  these  machines.  The  order  was  placed  by  the  managing  part¬ 
ner  of  the  works  after  personal  observation  of  the  practical  working  of 
the  machine  at  Maywood.  The  manager  declared  that  the  invention 
of  this  machine  had  solved  the  problem  of  making  a  perfect  tin  plate, 
automatically,  with  palm  oil  instead  of  acid  flux,  and  without  skilled 
labor.  The  palm-oil  process  is  regarded  as  superior  to  all  others  in 
tin-plate  manufactures,  for  the  reason,  as  is  claimed,  that  it  produces  a 
more  durable  plate. 

The  firm  had  also  devised  a  machine,  the  essential  features  of  Avhich 
were  in  operation  at  Maywood,  for  quickening  and  cheapening  the  pro¬ 
cess  of  cleaning  the  sheets  after  tinning.  By  this  means  it  is  expected 
that  one  person  can  do  what  has  hitherto  required  the  labor  of  three  or 
four  persons,  and  the  work  will  be  done  better  than  by  the  old  hand- 
cleaning  process. 

The  firm  propose,  ultimately,  to  erect  their  rolling  mills  for  the  pro¬ 
duction  of  black  plates,  but  are  now  working  upon  an  invention  by 
which  they  hope  to  cheapen  the  rolling  process  by  the  manufacture  of 
the  sheets  direct  from  the  fluid  steel.  They  have  erected  a  complete 
plant,  including  a  6-ton  open-hearth  Siemens-Martin  furnace  for  steel 
making,  with  which  to  carry  on  their  experimental  work,  all  at  an  ex¬ 
pense  of  more  than  $100,000. 

The  firm  have  ample  capital  and  expect  to  make  an  additional  out¬ 
lay  of  $250,000  to  $300,000  in  completing  their  plant. 

The  estimated  capacity  of  their  mills  when  completed  is  from  40,000,000 
to  50,000,000  pounds  annually. 

As  to  the  quality  of  American  tin  and  terne  plates  it  may  be  stated 
that  it  is  equal  if  not  superior  to  that  of  foreign  plates  of  the  same 
kinds,  which  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  they  are  eagerly  sought  after 
by  consumers,  and  that  manufacturers  are  generally  behind  with  their 
orders. 

A  principal  representative  of  one  of  the  large  stamping  companies 
of  the  country,  which  has  used  extensively  both  the  American  and  for¬ 
eign  product,  said  to  me  that,  from  their  experience,  plates  made  from 
American  soft  Bessemer  steel,  stood  the  test  of  deep  stamping  equally 
well  with  the  best  English  open-hearth  steel. 

I  might  enlarge,  but  what  has  been  stated  will  serve  to  show  the 
rapid  strides  of  the  new  industry  under  the  operations  of  the  present 
law.  It  furnishes,  further,  substantial  grounds  for  belief  that  the  time 
is  not  far  distant  when  the  United  States  will  be  the  largest  producer, 
as  it  is  now  the  largest  consumer,  of  tin  plates,  of  any  nation  in  the 
world. 

I  append,  Exhibit  7,  a  revised  list  of  manufacturers,  from  which  I 
have  omitted  the  names  of  all  firms  or  companies,  who  had  not  begun 
actual  building  operations,  August  15,  1892. 


16 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


TIN  MINES. 

With  respect  to  the  production  of  what  is  known  as  the  Temescal 
tin  mine,  located  in  San  Bernardino  County,  Cal.,  I  have  before  me 
the  sworn  statement,  dated  July  29,  1892,  of  W.  W.  Stewart,  of  the 
firm  of  W.  W.  Stewart  &  Co.,  at  San  Diego,  Cal.,  selling  agents  of  the 
mine. 

From  this  statement  it  appears  that  the  first  shipment  received  by 
the  firm  from  the  mine  was — 

Pounds. 


June  1,1891 .  11,826 

Shipments  from  July  1, 1891,  to  December  31, 1891 .  109, 282 

Shipments  from  January  1,  1892,  to  June  30,  1892 . . .  161,530 

Total  production  past  fiscal  year . . .  270, 812 

Previous  production .  11, 826 

Aggregate  production .  282,  638 

Or  over  141  tons  of  pig  tin. 


Mr.  Stewart  states  that  the  mine  looks  as  well  as  it  ever  did,  not¬ 
withstanding  reports  to  the  contrary  that  have  been  lately  circulated* 
It  appears  that  110  miners  are  now  employed,  and  that  the  stamping 
facilities  have  recently  been  enlarged.  It  will  probably  require  from 
three  to  five  years  to  get  the  mines  opened  so  as  to  work  them  properly. 
The  tin  is  pronounced  by  competent  experts  to  be  of  a  fine  quality, 
comparing  favorably  with  the  best  grades  used  in  Wales,  in  the  manu¬ 
facture  of  tin  plates. 

From  an  interview  had  recently  with  the  representative  of  the  Har¬ 
ney  Peak  Tin  Mining,  Milling  and  Manufacturing  Company,  whose  of¬ 
fice  is  at  No.  42  Wall  street,  this  city,  it  appears  that  the  development 
of  these  mines  has  been  steadily  going  forward,  and  that  the  expecta¬ 
tion  is  soon  to  begin  the  work  of  crushing  and  concentration. 

This  work  has  been  unexpectedly  delayed  by  the  heavy  snows  in 
that  section,  which  remained  on  the  ground  until  late  in  the  season, 
and  prevented  the  building  by  the  railroad  of  the  connecting  tracks  to 
the  various  mines.  The  expenditure  during  the  past  year  in  the  sink¬ 
ing  of  shafts,  the  running  of  levels,  and  other  operations,  required  in 
the  opening  up  of  the  mines,  has  averaged  about  $35,000  monthly. 
The  mill  for  crushing  and  concentrating  the  ore  is  at  Hill  City,  which 
is  the  center  of  operations.  The  mill  is  built  with  a  present  capacity 
of  250  tons,  but  with  power  for  500  tons.  The  future  of  these  mines, 
as  far  as  can  be  determined,  is  very  promising. 

Bespectfully  submitted. 

Ira  Ayer, 
Special  Agent. 

Hon.  Charles  Foster, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury ,  Washington ,  D.  C. 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES, 


17 


Exhibit  1. 

Abstract  of  tin  plates  and  terne  plates  produced  in  ilie  United  States  during  the  quartef 

ended  September  30,  1891. 


[Date  from  July  1  to  September  30,  1891.] 


Name  of  manufacturer. 

Voucher  number. 

Tin  plates. 

Terne  plates. 

Lighter  than  50 
pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

50  pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

62|  pounds  per  100  i 

square  feet. 

63  pounds  per  100 

square  feet  and 

heavier. 

Lighter  than'  50 

pounds  per  100 

square  feet. 

50  pounds  per  100 

square  feet. 

62|  pounds  per  100 

"square  feet. 

63  pounds  per  100 

square  feet  and 

heavier. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

Marshall,  Bros.  &  Co.,  Philadel¬ 

phia  Pa . 

1 

4,330 

16,  025 

24, 955 

N.  &  G.  Taylor  &  Co.,  Philadel¬ 

phia  Pa 

2 

40, 747 

628 

Pittsburg  Electro  Plating  Co., 

Apollo.  Pa . 

3 

349,  000 

206,  298 

St.  Louis  Stamping  Co.,  St. 

Louis  Mo  ....  . 

4 

10, 213 

3, 233 

6,  546 

25,  650 

U.  S.  Iron  and  Tin  Plate  Manu¬ 

facturing  Co.,  Demmler,  Pa  . . 

5 

5,  010 

74, 961 

41,452 

11,  074 

6,  800 

1 . 

Total . 

5,  010 

85, 174 

44,  685 

17,  620 

426.  527 

16.  025  231.881 

Exhibit  2. 


AbsU'act  of  tin  plates  and  terne  plates  produced  in  the  United  States  during  the  quarter 

ended  December  31,  1891. 


[Date  from  October  1  to  December  31,  1891.] 


Name  of  manufacturer. 

Voucher  number. 

Tin  plates. 

Terne  plates. 

Lighter  than  50 
pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

50  pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

62£  pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

63  pounds  per  100 
square  feet  and 
heavier. 

Lighter  than  50 
pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

50  pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

621  pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

63  pounds  per  100 
square  feet  and 
heavier. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

Anderson  Tin  Plate  Co.,  An¬ 

derson,  Ind . 

1 

25, 495 

Apollo  Iron  and  Steel  Co., 

Apollo,  Pa . 

2 

30, 881 

Cleveland  Tin  Plate  Co.,  Cleve¬ 

land,  Ohio . 

3 

46,  870 

13, 200 

Fleming  &  Hamilton,  Pitts¬ 

burg,  Pa . 

4 

77, 406 

147,  521 

Marshall  Bros.  &  Co.,  Philadel¬ 

phia,  Pa . 

5 

225,  936 

30,  965 

2,  240 

N.  &  G.  Taylor  &  Co.,  Philadel¬ 

phia,  Pa . 

6 

1, 404 

2, 176 

78, 102 

143, 602 

P.  H.  Laufinan  &  Co.,  limited, 

Apollo,  Pa . 

7 

28,  209 

68,  041 

Pittsburg  Electroplating  Co.. 

Apollo,  Pa . 

8 

186, 000 

69,  250 

St.  Louis  Stamping  Co ,  St. 

Louis,  Mo . 

9 

39, 976 

7, 101 

16,  408 

TJ.  S.  Iron  and  Tin  Plate  Manu¬ 

facturing  Co.,  Demmler,  Pa. . 

10 . 

34,  884 

49, 090 

34, 410 

26,  894 

16,  260 

William  T.  Simpson  &  Co.,  Cin¬ 

\ 

cinnati,  Ohio . 

11 

7,500 

Total . 

123, 134 

58, 367 

34, 410 

108, 287 

600,  244  338, *348 

147, 031 

4554 - 2 


18 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


Exhibit  3. 


Abstract  of  tin  plates  and  terne plates  produced  in  the  United  States  during  the  quarter 

ended  March  31,  1892. 

[Date  from  January  1  to  March  31,  1892.] 


Tin  plates. 


Terne  plates. 


Name  of  manufacturer. 


American  Tin  and  Terne  Plate 

Co.,  Philadelphia,  Pa . 

Anderson  Tin  Plate  Co.,  An¬ 
derson  Ind . 

Apollo  Iron  and  Steel  Co., 

Apollo,  Pa . 

Columbia  Tin  Plate  Co.,  Piqua, 

Ohio . 

Cleveland  Tin  Plate  Co.,  Cleve¬ 
land,  Ohio . 

Griffiths  &  Cadwalader,  Pitts¬ 
burg,  Pa . 

Jas.  B.  Scott  &  Co.,  Pittsburg, 

Pa . 

John  Hamilton,  Pittsburg,  Pa.. 
McKinley  Tin  Plate  Co.,  Pitts¬ 
burg,  Pa . 

Norton  Bros.,  Chicago,  Ill . 

N.  &  G.  Taylor  Co.,  Philadel¬ 
phia,  Pa . 

P.  H.  Laufman  &  Co.,  limited, 

Apollo,  Pa . 

Pittsburg  Electroplating  Co., 

Apollo,  Pa . 

Pittsburg  Tin  Plate  Works, 

New  Kensington,  Pa . 

Record  Manufacturing  Co., 

Conneaut,  Ohio . 

The  St.  Louis  Stamping  Co., 

St.  Louis,  Mo . 

The  Cincinnati  Corrugating 

Co.,  Piqua,  Ohio . 

IJ.  S.  Iron  and  Tin  Plate  Man¬ 
ufacturing  Co.,  Demmler,  Pa. 
Wallace  Banfield  &  Co.,  lim¬ 
ited,  Irondale,  Pa . 

William  T.  Simpson  &  Co., Cin¬ 
cinnati,  Ohio . 


Total. 


Lighter  than  50 
pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

O 

o 

GG 

it 

o  cr< 

p<co 

o 

to 

62£  pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

63  pounds  per  100 
square  feet  and 
heavier. 

Lighter  than  50  i 
pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

50  pounds  per  100 

square  feet. 

:  :  i 

62£  pounds  per  100 

square  feet. 

63  pounds  per  100 
square  feet  and 
heavier. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net.  ‘ 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

227,  237 

94,  368 

'  j 

52,  416' 

182, 005 

23, 133 

68,  920 

17,500 

. 

2, 750: 

2, 800 

49,  788 

■ 

43,  335 

6,  560 

110, 766 

675 

80,  438 

32,  230 

2,240 

144,  505 

99,  388 

33,600 

90,  651 

29,  408 

1,473 

38,339 

5,425 

305,  034 

46, 711 

8,437 

45,  749 

125,  278 

1 

: 

98,  000 

55,  590 

28,350 

... 

117,  493 

18, 726 

334, 805 

61,  447 

51,  473 

255,  433 

26,  927 

16,  280 

21, 175 

12,  266 

49,  222 

37,  045 

31, 104 

5,400 

16,  200 

135 

995 

138,  785 

719, 126 

160,  787 

80, 958 

406,  948 

1,  234,  677 

266,  244  201,  700 

✓ 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES, 


19 


Exhibit  4. 

Abstract  of  tin  plates  and  terne  plates  produced  in  the  United  States  during  the  quarter 
,  ended  June  30,  1892. 

[Date,  from  April  1  to  June  30,  1892.  J 


Name  of  manufacturer. 


A.  A.  Thomson  &  Co.,  New 

York.  N.  Y . 

American  Tin  and  Terne  Plate 

Co.,  Philadelphia,  Pa . 

American  Tin  Plate  Co.,  El- 

wood,  Ind . 

Anderson  Tin  Plate  Go.,  Ander¬ 
son,  Ind . 

Apollo  Iron  and  Steel  Co., 

Apollo,  Pa . . . 

Cincinnati  Corrugating  Co., 

Piqua,  Ohio . 

Cleveland  Tin  Plate  Co.,  Cleve¬ 
land,  Ohio . 

Coates  &  Co.,  Baltimore,  Md  . . . 
Columbia  Tin  Plate  Co.,  Piqua, 

Ohio . 

Griffiths  &  Cadwalader,  Pitts¬ 
burg,  Pa . 

John  Hamilton,  Pittsburg,  Pa. . 
Kahn  Brothers,  New  York, 

NY . 

Keystone  Tin  Plate  Co.,  Phila¬ 
delphia,  Pa . 

Marshall  Brothers  &  Co.,  Phil¬ 
adelphia,  Pa . 

Matthai  Ingram  <fc  Co.,  Balti¬ 
more,  Md . 

Merchant  &  Co.,  Philadelphia, 

Pa . 

McKinley  Tin  Plate  Co.,  Wil- 

kinsburg,  Pa . 

Norton  Bros.,  Chicago,  Ill . 

P.  H.  Laufman  &  Co.,  limited, 

Apollo,  Pa . 

Pittsburg  Electroplating  Co., 

Apollo,  Pa . 

Pittsbui-g  Tin  Plate  Works, 

New  Kensington,  Pa . 

Record  Manufacturing  Co., 

Conneaut,  Ohio . 

Scott  <fc  Co.,  James  B.,  Pitts¬ 
burg,  Pa . 

St.  Louis  Stamping  Co.,  St. 

Louis,  Mo . 

U.  S.  Iron  and  Tin  Plate 
Manufacturing  Co.,  Demm- 

ler,Pa . 

Wallace  Bantield  <fc  Co.,  lim¬ 
ited,  Jrondale,  Ohio . 


Total 


Tin  plates. 

Terne  plates. 

Lighter  than  50 
pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

50  pounds  per  100 

square  feet. 

62$  pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

63  pounds  per  100 
square  feet  and 

heavier. 

Lighter  than  50 
pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

50  pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

62$  pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

63  pounds  per  100 

square  feet  and 

i  heavier. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

] 

Lbs.  \ 

Lbs. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

24,  805 

264, 000 

27, 540 

1,  897 

27, 160 

- 

83,876 

25,796 

51,  744 

938,  929 

. 

81,857 

90,  372 

56, 871 

79, 380 

36,  718 

17, 822 

[ 

136,  000 

13,  030 

6,  230 

1 . 

62, 100 

145,  600 

1 

I 

43, 000 

98,  015 

'132,  352 

138, 240 

I 

64,  800 

1 

114,  224 

13,  776 

1,  344 

160, 765 

1 

45,  061 

63,  502 

74,  498 

41, 125 

I 

445,  006 

77,  270 

44,  685 

21,016 

48,  000 

110.  431 . 

29,  673 

! 

109,  284 

151,280 

120,  540 

; 

224,  000 

13,  500 

168, 439 

189,  661 

1,  610 

51, 380 

135,  498 

832,  703 

102, 155 

58,  841 

686,  770 

149,  503 

143, 400 

59,  946 

19,  491 

249,  843 

58,  633 

5,  720 

222,  064 

156,  330 

26,  968 

304,  972 

19,710 

251,649 

1,  826,  843 

718, 449 

274, 593 

1,  524,  950 

2,  481,  785 

788,  501 

333, 981 

20 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


Exhibit  5. 


Statement  of  tin  plates  and  terne  plates  produced  in  the  United  States  during  the  fiscal 

year  ended  June  SO,  1892. 


Tin  plates. 

Terne  plates. 

Production  during  quarter  ended — 

Lighter  than  50 
pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

50  pounds  per  100 

square  feet. 

62$  pounds  per  100 

square  feet. 

63  pounds  per  100 

1  square  feet  and 

1  heavier. 

Lighter  than  50 

pounds  per  100 

square  feet. 

50  pounds  per  100 

square  feet. 

62$  pounds  per  100 

square  feet. 

63  pounds  per  100 

square  feet  and 

|  heavier. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

1 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

Lbs. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

net. 

September  30, 1891  (Exhibit  1) . 

5,  010 

85, 174 

44,  685 

17,  620 

426, 527 

16,  025 

231,881 

December  31,  1891  (Exhibit  2) . 

123, 134 

58,367 
160,  787 

34,  410 
80,  958 

108,  287 

600,  244 
1,  234,  677 

338,  348 
266,  244 

147,  031 
201,  700 

March  31,  1892  (Exhibit  3) . 

138,  785 

719, 126 

406,  948 

June  30,  1892  ('Exhibit  4) . 

251,  649 

1,  826,  843 

718, 449 

274,  593 

1,  524,  950 

2,  481, 785 

788,  501 

333,  981 

Total . 

395,  444 

2,  754,  277 

982,  288 

407, 581 

2,  040, 185 

4,  743,  233 

1,  409, 118 

914,  593 

Exhibit  6. 

SUMMARY  OF  PRODUCTION. 


Period  from  July  1, 1891,  to 
June  30, 1892. 

Tin  plates. 

Terne  plates. 

Tin  and 
terne  plates. 

Lighter  than  63 
pounds  per  100 
square  feet. 

_  ■ 

63  pounds  per  100 
square  feet  and 
heavier. 

Total. 

Lighter  than  63 
pounds  per  100 
t  square  feet. 

63  pounds  por  100 
square  feet  and 
heavier. 

Total. 

Aggregate  pro¬ 
duction. 

1  1 

Lbs.  net. 

Lbs.net. 

Lbs.  net. 

Lbs.  net. 

Lbs.net. 

Lbs.  net. 

Lbs.  net. 

Exhibit  1 . 

134,  869 

17,  620 

152,  489 

442,  552 

231,881 

674, 433 

826,  922 

Exhibit  2 . 

181,  501 

34,  410 

215,  911 

1,  046,  879 

147,  031 

1, 193,  910 

1,  409, 821 

Exhibit  3 . 

1,  018,  698 

80,  958 

1,  099,  656 

1,  907, 869 

201,  700 

2, 109,  569 

3,  209,  225 

Exhibit  4 . 

2,  796,  941 

274, 593 

3,  071, 534 

4,  795,  236 

333,  981 

5, 129,  217 

8,  200,  751 

Total . 

4, 132,  009 

407,  581 

4,  539,  590 

8, 192,  536 

914,  593 

9, 107, 129 

11,  646,  719 

• 

/ 

TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES.  21 

Exhibit  7. 

REVISED  LIST  OF  FIRMS  OR  COMPANIES  ENGAGED  IN  TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATE 
MANUFACTURES,  AUGUST  15,  1892. 

[a.  Producing,  b.  Building,  e.  Enlarging,  s.  Production  suspended.  1.  Making  or  preparing  to 
make  black  plates.] 

Note. — From  the  following  list  are  omitted  the  names  of  all  firms  or  companies 
who  had  not  begun  actual  building  operations,  August  15, 1892. 

A.  A.  Thomson  &  Co.,  a . . New  York,  N.  Y. 

Aliquippa  Tin  Plate  Company,  5 . . Aliquippa,  Pa. 

American  Stamping  Company,  b . Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

American  Tin  Plate  Company,  a  el . . . Elwood,  Ind. 

American  Tin  Plate  Machine  and  Manufacturing  Company,  a.. Philadelphia,  Pa. 

American  Tin  and  Terne  Plate  Company,  a . Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Anderson  Tin  Plate  Company,  s . . . . Anderson,  Ind. 

Apollo  Iron  and  Steel  Company,  a  1 . Apollo,  Pa.  * 

Britton  Rolling  Mill  Company,  b  1 . Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Blairsville  Rolling  Mill  and  Tin  Plate  Company,  &  1 . Blairsville,  Pa. 

Cincinnati  CorrugafingCompany,  a . Piqua,  Ohio. 

Cleveland  Tin  Plate  Company,  a . Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Coates  &  Co.,  a  1 . Baltimore,  Md. 

Columbia  Tin  Plate  Company,  a . .l . Piqua,  Ohio. 

Corning  Steel  Company,  b  1 . ^ - Chicago,  Ill. 

Cumberland  Rolling  Mill  and  Tin  Plate  Company,  b  1 . Cumberland,  Md. 

E.  More  wood  &  Co.,  &  1 . Gas  City,  Ind. 

Falcon  Iron  and  Nail  Company,  b  1 . Niles,  Ohio. 

Griffiths  &  Cadwalader,  a . Pittsburg,  Pa. 

Gummey,  Spering  &  Co.,  a . Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Hughes  &  Patterson,  b  1 . Philadelphia,  Pa. 

John  Hamilton,  a . Pittsburg,  Pa. 

Kahn  Brothers,  a . New  York,  N.  Y. 

Keystone  Tin  Plate  Company,  8 . Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Marshall  Bros.  &  Co.,  a  el . . Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Matthai  Ingram  &  Co.,  a . Baltimore,  Md. 

McKinley  Tin  Plate  Company,  a . . . . . Wilkinsburg,  Pa. 

Merchant  &  Co.,  a  e . Philadelphia,  Pa. 

More  wood  Tin  Plate  Man  ufacturing  Company,  b . Elizabethport,  N.  J. 

N.  &  G.  Taylor  Company,  & . Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Norton  Brothers,  a  e  1 . Chicago,  Ill. 

New  Castle  Tin  Plate  Company,  51 . New  Castle,  Pa. 

P.  H.  Laufman  Co.,  limited,  a  el . Apollo,  Pa. 

Pittsburg  Electro-Plating  Company,  a  e . Apollo,  Pa. 

Pittsburg  Tin  Plate  Works,  5 . New  Kensington,  Pa. 

Record  Manufacturing  Company,  a  e . Conneaut,  Ohio. 

Scott  &  Co.,  Jas.  B.,  a . . . Pittsburg,  Pa. 

St.  Louis  Stamping  Company,  a  e  1 . S't.  Louis,  Mo. 

Somerton  Tin  Plate  Works,  5  1 . Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

United  States  Iron  and  Tin  Plate  Manufacturing  Company,  a  el.  Demmler,  Pa. 

Wallace  Banfield  &  Co.,  limited,  a  el . Irondale,  Ohio. 

W.  H.  Edwards,  a . Norristown,  Pa. 

Total  number  of  companies  August  15,  1892  . . .  42 

Number  of  companies  manufacturing  August  15,  1892 .  26 

Number  of  companies  building  August  15,  1892  .  14 

Number  of  companies  production  suspended  August  15,  1892  .  2 

Number  of  companies  enlarging  works  August  15,  1892 .  10 

Number  of  companies  making  or  preparing  to  make  black  plates,  August  15, 1892. .  18 

Production,  tin  and  terne  plates,  fiscal  year  ended  June  30, 1892 .  pounds . .  13,  646,  719 

Total  production  fiscal  year  ended  June  30, 1892,  including  manufactures 
from  American  sheet  iron  or  steel,  tinned  or  terne-coated,  about 

. . pounds . .  20,  000,  000 

Estimated  production  tin  and  terne  plates  fiscal  year  ending  June  30, 

1893  . pounds . .  100,  000,  000 

Estimated  annual  rate  of  production,  close  of  fiscal  year  ending  June  30, 

1893  . pounds . .  200,  000,  000 

Estimated  investment,  buildings  and  plant,  close  of  fiscal  year  ending 
June  30,  1893  .  $5,  000,  000 


22 


TIN  AND  TERNE  PLATES. 


STAMPING-  COMPANIES. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  stamping  companies  who  use  American  sheet 
iron  or  steel  in  the  manufacture  of  articles  and  wares,  tinned  or  terne- 
coated,  and  returns  from  which  had  been  received  August  15,  1892. 
Other  firms  are  engaged  in  these  manufactures,  from  whom  returns  are 
expected.  It  has  been  seen  that  the  class  of  manufactures  above  de¬ 
scribed  constitutes  tin  and  terne  plates  within  the  meaning  of  the  law. 


American  Stamping  Company . Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Central  Stamping  Company . New  York,  N.  Y. 

Chicago  Stamping  Company . Chicago,  Ill. 

Eberhard  Manufacturing  Company . Cleveland,  Ohio. 

G.  I.  Mix  &  Co . Yalesville,  Conn. 

Ironclad  Manufacturing  Company. . New  York,  N.  Y. 

Joseph  Scheider  &  Co., . Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Knapp  &  Pratt  Manufacturing  Company . Geneva,  Ohio. 

R.  Wallace  &  Sons  Manufacturing  Company . .Wallingford,  Conn. 

Sidney  Shepard  &  Co . . Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Number  of  companies,  returns  rendered  August  15, 1892 .  10 

Total  manufactures  fiscal  year  ended  June  30,  1892,  per  returns  rendered 
to  August  15,  1892 . pounds . .  4,  828, 228 


ROLLING  MILLS. 

The  following  rolling  mills,  which  are  not  engaged  in  the  manufac¬ 
ture  of  tin  and  terne  plates,  make  the  black  plates,  which  they  sell  to 
manufacturers  of  tin  and  terne  plates,  and  to  stamping  companies  for 
tinning  purposes,  viz : 


Cannonsburg  Iron  and  Steel  Company . Cannonsburg,  Pa. 

Jennings  Brothers . Allegheny,  Pa. 

Kirkpatrick  &  Co . ..Pittsburg,  Pa. 

Summers  Brothers . Struthers,  Ohio. 


The  Cannonsburg  Iron  and  Steel  Company  have  recently  enlarged 
their  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  black  plates. 

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